The United States Agency for International Development’s inspector general has released a June report that documents systematic interference by Hamas in humanitarian operations in Gaza. The investigation, obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, concludes that Hamas is using its authority to control aid sites, coerce staff and redirect resources to its armed wing.
How Hamas is influencing aid operations
The probe describes a situation in which Hamas personnel are stationed at key humanitarian locations, including hospitals and aid depots, and exercise strict oversight. Inspectors say the group has pressured NGOs to share detailed information about their employees and to allow Hamas‑linked individuals to patrol aid facilities.
One non‑governmental organisation, International Medical Corps, reported that in January 2024 the Hamas Ministry of Interior requested a permanent booth or tent for its personnel at a field hospital in Meraj, a rural area of southern Gaza. The same ministry also asked the charity to register all expatriate medical staff and provide licence and professional details for every national healthcare worker operating in the enclave.
Another charity, Project Hope, said two unarmed individuals carrying Ministry of Interior credentials attempted to obtain employee data, but the organisation refused to share the information.
The report also notes that Hamas has employed its police force to intimidate aid workers and to threaten the closure of operations if its demands are not met.
Reactions from US officials
Senator Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, described the documents as proof that Hamas is interfering with aid and diverting supplies to its militant wing. He said the findings “prove it”.
A senior State Department official, speaking to the Free Beacon, echoed the assessment, stating that “Hamas is not the innocent, angelic bystander that many in the international community would have us believe.” The official added that the investigation shows “systemic attempts to thwart, divert, and obstruct aid intended for those in need.”
Both officials called for Congress to act on the new information to ensure that US taxpayer dollars are not inadvertently supporting Hamas’s war effort.
US oversight and the broader aid context
The United States continues to provide substantial humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The State Department says every dollar is subject to counter‑terrorism vetting, monitoring and oversight procedures designed to prevent diversion to Hamas or other terror groups. Nonetheless, the inspector general’s findings highlight the difficulty of delivering aid in a conflict zone where a governing militant group seeks to exploit relief operations.
US and other donor nations now face the challenge of balancing the urgent need for humanitarian relief with the risk that aid could be co‑opted for military purposes. The report recommends tighter oversight and greater accountability to ensure that assistance reaches civilians rather than being siphoned to Hamas’s armed activities.
United Nations response
The United Nations has acknowledged the problem and says it is taking steps to address Hamas interference, though some lawmakers and experts argue that the UN’s response has been too slow. Calls are growing for more decisive action to prevent aid from being diverted to terrorist groups.
Overall, the USAID inspector general’s investigation paints a disturbing picture of Hamas using its authority to bully aid workers, commandeer resources and undermine the delivery of humanitarian relief in Gaza. The findings are likely to shape future US policy and donor strategies as the international community seeks to provide aid while limiting the risk of diversion to militant actors.